curran out to shore up tail
Curran - side face the hosts today.
Hosts West Indies could be facing a changed Zimbabwe side today as coach Kevin Curran seeks to deal with a tail that was exposed by Ireland in their dramatic World Cup tie last week.
Zimbabwe seemed to be on course for victory in the Group D match in Jamaica but remarkably had to settle for a share of the spoils despite needing just 15 runs from 36 balls with four wickets in hand at one stage.
The fragile nature of their lower order is something that Curran looks set to address as his side try to keep their own Super Eight hopes alive and stop the hosts booking their place in the next stage.
Those in the frame for a potential call-up include spin bowler Keith Dabengwa and paceman Tawanda Mupariwa, both of whom have made useful contributions with the bat in recent years.
Curran's assistant Steve Mangongo said: "There is no doubt that if just one of the last four batsmen had been able to score runs [against Ireland] and complement Stuart [Matsikenyeri, who finished 73 not out], we would have won the game with ease.
"We could not do it, hence the need to address the tail for the game against West Indies.
"What came out of the game against Ireland is that we have a very long tail which has little input to the score.
"We need to come up with a better team balance in which we will have more useful people with the bat while also retaining the bowling strength.
"Dabengwa has always made useful contributions of 20s and 30s while Mupariwa has a very good record in the West Indies and has also proved useful with the bat.
"The most crucial thing is to strike a balance in the team without disadvantaging any department.
"We've got to give it our best shot against West Indies and, if we are to lose, we have to make it a very close contest because if we beat Pakistan in the final game, a place for the Super Eight will be down to net run-rate with Ireland."
Former West Indies all-rounder Ricardo Powell - currently on a year-long sabbatical from the game - has called on the host nation's young stars to follow up victory against Pakistan with another big performance.
Powell believes the likes of Marlon Samuels, Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith can lead Brian Lara's men to glory but wants to see more consistency.
"Marlon is a match-winner, and the other two have shown they are very gifted too," he said.
"I think it can be a world-beating team, definitely make it to the final, but it comes down to consistency.
"When you have players like that in a team, so many capable of winning a game, it's great.
"But it's no good just having that talent on paper, it's a matter of producing it when you go out in the middle."


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